Page 160 of The Lineman

I frowned. “What?”

He hesitated.

And just like that, the warmth in my chest turned to something heavier, something far colder.

I rolled onto my side, propping my head up with my hand. “Talk to me.”

Elliot exhaled. “It’s nothing.”

“Bullshit.” I arched a brow. “You’re not a guy who dwells on nothing.”

He huffed a quiet laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I reached out, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “Come on. You’ve been weird about something for a while now, since you were in the hospital, really.”

He tensed.

There it was. Thatwasit. The accident.

I studied his face, my stomach tightening. “Elliot . . . what happened when you fell?”

His eyes flickered. “Mike—”

“And don’t tell me it was just an accident,” I interrupted. “Because when I told you Rodriguez was hurt, you froze. Your whole body turned into a statue, and from the look on your face, you wanted it to shatter into a million pieces. You weren’t okay then—and until you get this out—I don’t think you will be.”

Elliot swallowed.

I searched his face. “You think it was your fault, don’t you?”

His jaw clenched.

I felt my heart squeeze. “Why?”

For a moment, he didn’t speak.

Then, quietly—

“Because it was.”

I stared at him. “Elliot—”

“I was rushing. We both were.” He shook his head. “We were working faster than we should have been. Rodriguez leaned out of the bucket, and I didn’t see. I couldn’t see. I pressed the lever to shift and . . . I should have seen it coming. I should have—”

“Stop.”

His eyes snapped to mine.

I tightened my grip on his chin, forcing him to look at me. “You don’t get to do that.”

His brows furrowed. “Mike—”

“No,” I said firmly. “It wasan accident. You’re a damn good lineman. You know that.”

His throat bobbed.

I softened my voice. “You didn’t cause what happened, Elliot.”

His lips pressed together.